Opportunity has smiled on rookie Tourek Williams since the Chargers drafted him in the sixth round.

When Melvin Ingram suffered a torn ACL in May, Williams joined the first team for several practices. Then newcomer Dwight Freeney took over at weak outside linebacker, allowing Williams to learn from a seven-time Pro Bowler.

For additional pointers, Williams can chat up Jets edge rusher Antwan Barnes, who two years ago led the Chargers in sacks and knows coordinator John Pagano's defense. Barnes and Williams are alums of Florida International University.

Any and all aid is welcomed, given the task confronting Williams. He is learning not just the NFL game but a new position after playing end in college, and his typical foe is the left tackle, where teams put their best pass blocker.

“I’ll be great at it once I get it down,” Williams said.

Chargers right guard Jeromey Clary, a sixth-round selection out of Kansas State in 2006, is entering his fifth season as an NFL starter, but 16 of the Chargers' other 17 sixth-rounders taken since 1996 never started most of the games in a season.

Williams is expected to have a good shot at making the team and helping on special teams, at the least. Can he someday become a force off the edge?

In recent practices, the 6’ 4, 262-pounder made plays as a run defender but as a pass rusher struggled to disengage from long-armed Michael Harris, who is at right tackle with the second team and left tackle as the No. 4 option.

A potential starter with exciting ability is how both Freeney and Jarret Johnson, the other starter at outside linebacker, described Williams.

“He’s a quick, nimble guy with a lot of upside,” Freeney said. “He has a lot of bend and agility."

Freeney added: “It’s funny, he did some moves that I said, ‘Whoa, it looked like looking in the mirror a little bit.’ ”

Johnson began his NFL career as a defensive tackle with the Ravens and made the move to outside linebacker. A stout run defender, the 11-year veteran described Williams as a "physical" combatant who should be "good to have on the edge” containing the run.

“And then, he’s got a little wiggle to him, so hopefully he’ll be a good pass rusher for us,” Johnson said. “He has zero experience because it’s his first year, but he does a lot of natural things that you see really good players do. I’m really excited about him.”

Williams said he got most of his sacks in college by bulling past blockers or making speed-to-power moves. He is working to develop other maneuvers, while drawing on energy reserves that scouts said boosted his draft stock.

“I keep going all day long,” he said. “As long as I’m going, I know my opponent will get tired. I’ve got the will to win. Have always had it.”

Not only on the football field but in the swimming pool did Williams defeat opponents in high school. As a senior at Miami's Norland High, he decided to play water polo.